Sutera plant named &#39;dancop18&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Sutera  plant named ‘DANCOP18’ particularly characterized by having 5-petalled flowers, measuring 1.8 cm in diameter and violet-blue in color, with a yellow-colored center, and with a yellow-orange colored throat; vigorous growth which maintains a trailing, compact growth habit; early flowering response, suitable for use with hanging basket planters, combination planters and ground cover under full sunlight-and slight shade.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES OF THE CLAIMED PLANT

Sutera cordata

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘DANCOP18’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Sutera plant, botanically known as Sutera cordata, hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘DANCOP18’.

Sutera, of the Scrophulariaceae family, consists of annuals which are grown in most climate zones in the U.S., and only in zones 9 and 10 if it is a perennial plant.

The new Sutera cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the inventor, Gabriel Danziger, in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel. The objective of the breeding program is to develop a new Sutera variety with large, violet-blue colored flowers with a yellow-colored center and a trailing, compact growth habit.

The new Sutera cultivar originated from a cross made in a controlled breeding program by the inventor in 2004, in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel. The female or seed parent is a Sutera cultivar designated ‘CV-4-58’ from our breeding program (unpatented). The male or pollen parent is Sutera cultivar designated ‘OP12’ from our breeding program (unpatented). The new Sutera cultivar ‘DANCOP18’ was discovered and selected by the inventor, Gabriel Danziger, as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross in a controlled environment in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel.

Asexual reproduction of the new Sutera cultivar by vegetative cuttings was first performed in August of 2004 in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel, and has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for the new cultivar are firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction. The new cultivar reproduces true to type.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be unique characteristics of ‘DANCOP18’, which in combination distinguish this Sutera as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. 5-petalled flowers, measuring about 1.8 cm in diameter and         violet-blue in color, with a yellow-colored center, and with a         yellow-orange colored throat;     -   2. Vigorous growth which maintains a trailing, compact growth         habit;     -   3. Early flowering response; and     -   4. Suitable for use with hanging basket planters, combination         planters and ground cover under full sunlight-and slight shade.

Plants of ‘DANCOP18’ differ from the plants of the female parent, ‘CV-4-58’ primarily in flower size and growth habit. Plants of ‘DANCOP18’ produce flowers darker in color (violet-blue, RHS 91B) than plants of ‘CV-4-58’ (violet-blue, RHS 92D). Plants of ‘DANCOP18’ have more compact growth habit (height about 12 cm and spread about 40 cm) than plants of ‘CV-4-58’ (height about 15 cm and spread about 50 cm).

Of the many commercial cultivars known to the inventor, the most similar in comparison to ‘DANCOP18’ is the Sutera cultivar ‘GREAT BLUE’ (unpatented). The new cultivar is distinguishable from ‘GREAT BLUE’ in flower color and growth habit. The flower color of ‘DANCOP18’ is lighter with a yellow center, and its growth habit is compact, whereas ‘GREAT BLUE’ flowers are darker, without a yellow center, and its habit is more vigorous.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying photographic drawings illustrate the overall appearance of the new Sutera cultivar ‘DANCOP18’ showing the colors as true as is reasonably possible with colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color value cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the color of ‘DANCOP18’.

FIG. 1 shows a side view perspective of a typical ‘DANCOP18’ plant in a hanging basket at 3 months.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up of the typical flowers, buds and leaves of ‘DANCOP18’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new Sutera cultivar ‘DANCOP18’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary significantly with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity, and day length without any change in the genotype of the plant.

The aforementioned photographs, together with the following observations, measurements and values describe the new Sutera cultivar ‘DANCOP18’ as grown in a greenhouse in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel, under conditions which closely approximate those generally used in commercial practice.

Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (R.H.S.), 2001 edition, except where general colors of ordinary significance are used. Color values were taken under daylight conditions at approximately 12:00 noon in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel. The age of the plant described is 2 months.

-   Classification:     -   -   Botanical.—Sutera cordata.         -   Commerical.—Sutera c.v. Copia Sunshine Blue. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female or seed parent.—Sutera cultivar designated ‘CV-4-58’             from our breeding program (unpatented).         -   Male or pollen parent.—Sutera cultivar designated ‘OP12’             from our breeding program (unpatented). -   Optimal growth conditions:     -   -   Light intensities.—Full sunlight or slight shade.         -   Temperature.—Day: 20° C. to 24° C. Night: 16° C. to 20° C.         -   Temperature tolerance.—Tolerant to a low temperature of             about 10° C. and tolerant to a high temperature of about 30°             C.         -   Fertilization.—A balanced fertilizer with a level of 100 ppm             Nitrogen.         -   Growth regulators.—Unnecessary. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—Tip cuttings of side shoots.         -   Rooting habit and description.—Easy to root.         -   Time to initiate roots.—About 7 to 10 days at 18° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—14 days at 18° C. -   Plant:     -   -   General appearance and form.—Height: 12 cm. Spread: 40 cm.         -   Shape.—Trailing, compact growth habit.         -   Winter hardiness.—Hardy in moderate climate.         -   Vigor.—Strong.         -   Strength.—Good.         -   Crop time.—About 8 to 10 weeks for a flowering pot.         -   Fragrance.—None.         -   Branching habit.—Vigorously branched.

Lateral branches.— TABLE 1 Branch characteristic Primary Secondary Length 30 cm. 14 cm. Diameter 2 mm. 1 mm. Internode Length 2 cm. 1.5 cm. Texture Slightly rough Slightly rough Pubescence Present Present Color Green, RHS 137C Green, RHS 137C

-   Foliage:     -   -   Arrangement and attachment.—Opposite, petiolate.         -   Leaf length.—1.8 cm.         -   Leaf width.—1.2 cm.         -   Overall shape of leaf.—Elliptic.         -   Apex shape.—Acute.         -   Base shape.—Acute.         -   Margin.—Dentate.         -   Texture (both surfaces).—Slightly velvety.         -   Pubescence (both surfaces).—Slightly present.         -   Color of upper surface.—Mature leaf: Green, RHS 137A.             Immature leaf: Green, RHS 137B.         -   Color of lower surface.—Mature leaf: Green, RHS 137B.             Immature leaf: Green, RHS 137C.         -   Venation.—Pattern: Pinnate. Color: Upper surface: Green, RHS             137A. Lower surface: Green, RHS 137B.         -   Petiole.—Length: 6 mm. Diameter: 1 mm. Color: Green, RHS             137A.         -   Leaf fragrance.—None. -   Flower description:     -   -   Natural flowering season.—All year round in moderate             climate. Flowering occurs year round outdoors in Israel.         -   Flowering response time.—About 4 weeks from planting.         -   Flowering longevity.—On the plant: Flowering of a single             flower lasts for 7 days.         -   Flower fragrance.—None.         -   Quantity of flowers and buds per plant.—Approximately 200.         -   Flower bud (about 2 days prior to opening).—Shape:             Spatulate. Length: 9 mm. Diameter: 4 mm.         -   Texture.—velvety Color: Yellow-orange, RHS 16B.         -   Flower type.—Solitary, auxiliary.         -   Flower form.—Salverform.         -   Flower symmetry.—Bilateral.         -   Orientation at opening.—Slanted upward and outward.         -   Corolla size.—Diameter (spread): 1.8 cm. Diameter at lobes:             18 mm. Overall flower height: 12 mm. Length of corolla tube:             8 mm. Diameter of corolla tube: 1 mm.         -   Petals.—Quantity: 5. Length: 9 mm. Width: 8 mm. Overall             shape: Rounded and gameopetalous. Apex: Rounded. Base:             Fused. Margin: Entire. Texture (upper & lower surfaces):             Slightly velvety. Color: Upper surface, when opening:             Violet-Blue, RHS 91A. Upper surface, opened flower:             Violet-Blue, RHS 91B. Lower surface, when opening:             Violet-Blue, RHS 91B. Lower surface, opened flower:             Violet-Blue, RHS 91C. Corolla throat color: Yellow-orange,             RHS 17B.         -   Calyx.—Sepals: Quantity: 5. Length: 5 mm. Width: 1 mm.             Overall shape: Linear. Apex: Acute. Base: Fused. Margin:             Entire. Texture: Upper surface: Velvety. Lower surface:             Velvety. Upper surface color: Green, RHS 143A. Lower surface             color: Green, RHS 143A. Anthocyan pigmentation of calyx             limb: Absent.         -   Pedicel.—Aspect: Slanted upward. Length: 10 mm. Diameter:             1 mm. Angle: About 45° Texture: Velvety. Color: Green, RHS             143A. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Androecium.—Stamen: Number: 4. Arrangement: Didynamous.             Type: Basifixed. Dehiscence of stamens: Extrorse. Anthers:             Shape: Cylinder. Length: 1 mm. Color: Yellow-orange, RHS             17B. Filaments: Length: About 8 mm. Color: RHS 155A, white.             Pollen: Amount: moderate. Color: Yellow-orange, RHS 17B.             Pollination requirements: Young flowers, vital pollen, and             receptive, open stigma.         -   Gynoecium.—Pistils: Quantity: 1. Length: About: 11 mm.             Stigma: Shape: Undulate. Width: About 0.5 mm. Color:             Yellow-green, RHS 150B. Style: Shape: Terete. Length: About             9 mm. Ovary: Shape: Ellipsoid. Position: Superior. Length:             About 2 mm. Width: About 1 mm. Color: Green, RHS 143C. -   Seeds:     -   -   Quantity per fruit.—About 20.         -   Shape.—Elliptic.         -   Length.—1 mm.         -   Width.—0.5 mm.         -   Texture.—Rough.         -   Color.—Greyed-yellow, RHS 162A. -   Fruit:     -   -   Type.—Capsule.         -   Shape.—Ellipsoid.         -   Length.—About 3 mm.         -   Width.—About 2 mm.         -   Texture.—Rugose.         -   Color.—Greyed-Orange, RHS 165B. -   Disease/pest resistance: No information is currently available. -   Disease/pest susceptibility: No information is currently available. 

1. A new and distinct Sutera plant named ‘DANCOP18’, substantially as illustrated and described herein. 